TEHRAN, March 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran on Wednesday expressed its disappointment with European countries that yielded to US pressure in agreeing to a tough draft resolution on Tehran's atomic program,local press reported.

    Pirooz Hosseini, Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reportedly said, "We expected more from our European colleagues, but there was too much pressure, unconstructive pressure, by the Americans."

    The remarks were made in response to a tentative agreement reached on Tuesday between the United States and European countries, mainly France, Germany and Britain, on a draft resolution criticizing Iran for failing to declare sensitive partsof its nuclear program.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi also warned that his country would stop cooperation with the IAEA unless it stopped being "influenced by the Americans."

    Referring to a tough draft resolution condemning Iran's failure to declare the full scope of its atomic program, Kharazi said that"unfortunately, the agency allows itself to be influenced by the Americans."

    "We are engaged in cooperation with the IAEA, and for this to continue the cooperation has to be bilateral. If one side does notrespect its obligations, the cooperation will end," he said.

    "We advise the Europeans to respect their obligations and to resist American pressure, otherwise there is no reason for cooperation to continue," Kharazi stressed.

    US NOT "APPEASE" EUROPE

    US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday he was confident that the IAEA would warn Iran it could face sanctions over its nuclear programs.

    Washington, which has accused Iran of trying to make atomic bombs, insisted Tehran should be condemned for not fully living up to pledges to reveal all past and present nuclear activities and keep options open for future involvement by the UN Security Council.

    The European nations, however, wanted to emphasize Iran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog following the discovery last year that Tehran had plans to enrich uranium and secretly conducted other tests with possible weapons applications over nearly two decades.

    Tuesday's draft resolution, while appreciating the progress Iran has made in opening much of its nuclear programs, censured Tehran for continued concealment in some areas.

    It criticized Iran for failing to disclose the sensitive parts of its nuclear programs, but stopped short of seeking any sanctions until at least June.

    Powell also rejected criticisms that Washington softened its stand on Iran in negotiating with European partners in drafting the IAEA resolution.

    "The headline I saw this morning said 'appeases,' 'we appease Europe.' Not so. We are coming up with a resolution that will showthat the United States firmly believes Iran has to give up its nuclear weapons program," Powell said.

    The draft resolution drawn up in Vienna was "a good compromise "that served the interests of the United States and Europe, Powellsaid.

    Iran has claimed that it is pursuing a peaceful nuclear program to generate electricity. Enditem